|
|
 |
The Other Caribbean
|
| Click Here to go back. |
The Beat, The Other Caribbean >>
Volume 23, #6 2004
by Brian Dring
The new album from Haitian diva Emeline Michel has been a few years in the making and fans should be glad to know that it will be released in early October, long before this issue hits the news stands. Her eighth album to date, Rasin Kreyol (Times Square Records) continues to explore the deep roots of Haitian culture as interpreted through the artist's many emotions and sung in her uniquely powerful and expressive voice.
Even as the country of Haiti celebrates its 200th year of independence marked by more political upheavals, floods, and hurricanes, Emeline sings with renewed commitment of the country's unique Creole music and culture. For example "Nasyon Soley (Sun Nation)" opens with the recording of a toddler receiving a lesson in a Creole song from a loving parent, demonstrating the passing down of language and culture through oral tradition. The song also addresses the state of exile faced by many Haitians who live outside the country. "We are not Diaspora, we are just trapped, Emeline sings, "wherever you go you carry your flag under your skin."
On "La Karidad" an older simpler Haiti and a time of young love are evoked by an old-style compas which is given almost an Antillean biguine feel by a mellow sax and piano solos. Elsewhere on the album, "Non'm Sa (This Man)" has a surreal hypnotic quality featuring drifting voices over deeply resonant percussion and bass with some very double-entendre lyrics like "we all have forces fueling us.this man has the key to my backyard."
The cut "Zikap" starts like classic organ-fueled reggae but quickly reveals a vodou rhythm reverberating behind the simpler one-drop beat and features some very interesting Creole proverbs about deception and keeping control of one's life.One of my favorite cuts "Lo'm Kanpe (When I Stand Up)" is sung in true angaje style, reflecting on immigration and the false promise of America, and makes such observations as "scholars from my homeland are chopping meat in McDonald's."
"Bo Kote'w (By Your Side)" is true world-beat dance music featuring a fiery horn section and some nice vocal harmonies. The final cut "Mon Reve (My Dream)" mixes a vodou rhythm with Guinean flute to produce a haunting effect. It's clear from the incisive and thoughtful lyrics that over the past few years Emeline has done a lot of re-examining of life from both inside and out and continued to develop as both a songwriter and producer.
This album is sure to please her Haitian fans as well as those non-Haitians who have been turned on by the exotic sound and the good vibes. 12/30/04
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
